The Oldenburg stallion Balou Star continues to cause a sensation: As announced by the Selle Francais Association, the stallion Balou Star, born in 2005, by Balou du Rouet out of Quenada Z by Quick Star, bred by Hans-Otto Nos, Ortenberg, ridden by Udo Oppermann, was named the stallion with the best 4-year-old offspring in France in 2023. An impressive success for an Oldenburg show jumping star in French breeding.

Earlier in the year, it was announced that Balou Star had risen to the top ranking of French breeding stallions in 2023 with more than 100 mares inseminated. In total, Balou Star has already inseminated well over 500 mares with some of the best pedigrees in France. News that will make the hearts of every stallion owner and discerning breeder beat faster.

Balou Star impressively demonstrated that he was a very successful international athlete by winning the 2019 European Young Riders Team Championships and various Nations Cup successes up to the 1.60 m class for Great Britain under the British rider Millie Allen, as well as subsequently under the French 5* rider Megane Moissonnier.

That he is also a successful sire is proven by his now more than ten licensed sons and numerous offspring in international sport, including:

 

  • Lady-Lou OLD, winner of the 2019 6-year-old championships in Rastede, competes internationally under Jana Wargers, among others
  • Bugatti de Balou Star OLD, 7-year-old OS-licensed stallion, silver and bronze medal winner 2021/22 in Rastede
  • Icatcher de Balou Star, 6-year-old SF-licensed stallion, 7th place at the SF licensing and two-time championship participant at the Grand Semain in Fontainebleau
  • Itot de Balou Star, 6-year-old SF licensed stallion and grandson of Sophie du Chateau
  • Balmain d’Grandin, 5-year-old Z gelding, winner of the championships in Canvan, IRL, in 2022, owned by Bertram Allen (Ballywalter Stables)

     

 

In addition, there are numerous offspring from the best mare lines in Europe, including the two daughters and also the dam of the reigning European Champion Dynamix de Belheme under Steve Guerdat (breeder: Frederic & Laure Aimez) as well as from the Fanny du Murier granddaughter Tchinella de Toscane or the 2002 World Champion Liscalgot, successful under Dermot Lennon, and last but not least the Usha van’t Roosakker line.

Five foals have already been bred from the Dynamix de Belheme line in France, including a direct Balou Star sister of the European Champion Dynamix de Belheme this year.

Photo: Filly by Balou Star out of the dam of the European Champion Dynamix de Belheme. (Frederic Aimez)

How is the winner with the best offspring determined in France?
On the initiative of the Selle Français, a new study has been carried out to provide breeders with new information so that they can recognize up-and-coming stallions earlier. This new study refers to stallions with a significant production with at least 25 offspring in show jumping competitions that are four or five years old in 2023. In terms of the average ISO (jumping index) of the best 25% of his offspring, Balou Star is the best young stallion (i.e. stallion with a young progeny) in France in 2023 with an average ISO of 126!

Source Article: https://oldenburger-pferde.com/de/zucht/news/2024/balou-star-nr.-1-in-frankreich.html